RICHARD, fourth baronet.

Thomas, was knight of the shire for Kent, 12
WILLIAM III. and d. s. p.

Philip, d. unm. before his father.

ROGER, s. as fifth baronet.

He was s. by his eldest son,

III. SIR WILLIAM MEREDITH, who died unm. about 1682, and was s. by his brother,

IV. SIR RICHARD MEREDITH, who also died unm. in August, 1723, and was s. by his youngest brother,

V. SIR ROGER MEREDITH, of Leeds Abbey, in Kent, M.P. for that county, 1727, who m. Mary, daughter of Francis Tyssen, esq. of Shacklewell, and widow of Samuel Gott, esq. but d. s. p. 3rd January, 1739, when the BARONETCY EXPIRED. The estate of Leeds Abbey passed, under Sir Roger's will, to his niece, Susanna Meredith, and was eventually sold in 1765, to John Calcraft, esq. of Ingress.

RICHARD.

John, m. Jane, daughter of Sir Thomas Blennerhasset, knt.

The second son, and eventual heir,

RICHARD MEUX, esq. of Kingston, married Dorothy, daughter of Thomas Cooke, esq. of Harbridge and Somerley, in Hampshire, and had three sons and two daughters, viz.

WILLIAM, his heir.
Thomas, of Bishopstown, Wilts, m. first, Eleanor,
widow of Young, esq.; secondly, Mrs. Hiles,
second sister of Anthony Lisley; and thirdly,
another (the third) sister of Anthony Lisley.

JORDAN DE KINGSTON, lord of Kingston, in the Isle of Wight, was father of

SIR JOHN KINGSTON, of Kingston, whose only daughter and eventual heiress,

WILLIAM (Sir), his heir.

Bartholomew, of Lesland, in the Isle of Wight, buried at Kingston, 19th December, 1650, called in his will (proved 23rd June, 1632), of Brixton, in the Isle of Wight, m. Radcliffe, daughter of William Gerard, esq. of Harrow-on-the-Hill, and from this marriage descended

SIR HENRY MEUX, bart. of Theobald's Park, Herts, the eminent London brewer. (Refer to BURKE'S Peerage and Baronetage.) Eleanor, m. to William Compton, esq. of Hartbury, in the county of Gloucester.

Mary, m. to William Higford, esq. of Dixon, in the county of Gloucester.

This Sir John Meux entered his pedigree at the Visitation of Hants, in 1622. He was s. at his decease by his elder son,

SIR WILLIAM MEUX, knt. of Kingston, living in 1641, who m. first, Winifred, daughter of Sir Francis Barrington, bart. of Barrington Hall, in the county of Essex, and had issue,

Anne, of Westminster, d. unm. in 1728.
Elizabeth, d. unm. before her sister.

He d. in February, 1657, and was s. by his son,

II. SIR WILLIAM MEUX, who m. first, Mabel, daughter of Sir Robert Dillington, bart. of Knighton, in the Isle of Wight, and by that lady had four children, who all died young. He wedded, secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of George Browne, esq. of Buckland, in Surrey, and by her had

WILLIAM, his successor.

Henry, aged three years in 1694, d. unm.

ELIZABETH, m. 2nd May, 1710, to Sir John Miller,

ELEANOR KINGSTON, m. William Drew, and left a so and heir,

JOHN DREW, of Kingston, grandfather of the ly mentioned above,

ALICE DREW, as marrying Lodovick Meux.

assistance, and the works which had been effected by four years' arduous labour, were on the point of being abandoned, when the enterprizing projector applied to King JAMES, who covenanted, in consideration that a moiety of the shares were made over to him, to advance money for the completion of the undertaking. It now went on without interruption; and on the 29th September, 1613, the water was let into the basin at the place now called the New River Head at Islington.

The following account of the ceremony upon the occasion was published at the time: "A troop of labourers, to the number of sixty and upwards, all in green caps alike, bearing in their hands the symbols of their several employments in so great a business, marching, with drums before them, twice or thrice round the cestern, orderly present themselves before the mount; and after their departure, the speech (being forty-eight lines in verse) was said, ending thus:

"Now for the fruits then; flow forth pretious spring, So long and dearly sought for, and now bring Comfort to all that love thee, loudly sing, And with thy chrystal murmurs strucke together, Bid all thy true well-wishers welcome hither. "At which words the flood-gate opens, and the stream is let into the cestern, drums and trumpets giving it triumphant welcome; and for the close of this their honourable entertainment a peal of chambers.”

One of the most difficult parts of the work still remained to be accomplished-the conveyance of the water to the various quarters of the metropolis. The expense attending this was very great, and a considerable time elapsed before the water came into general use; so that the shares became of small value, the annual dividends for many years being under £5. The general establishment of the plan, however, together with the incalculable advantages deriveable from it, which were at length universally acknowledged, have, in the course of a century and a half, so raised the shares as to increase the annual income

nearly a hundred fold. The property of the New River was, by a partition made soon after the commencement of the undertaking, divided into seventytwo shares. Thirty-six of these, called "the Adventurer's Shares," were originally vested in Sir Hugh Middelton, and the remaining moiety were enjoyed by the crown until alienated. Like many other public benefactors, Sir Hugh derived himself no advantage from his enterprizing exertions; on the contrary, the outlay so impoverished him that he was under the necessity of engaging in the business of a civil engineer. In 1622 he was created a BARONET, and died in 1631. By his will, dated 21st November, 1631, he bequeathed to each of his children by name, except John and Hugh, his two eldest sons (who died before the making of his will), and William, his third son, and Jane, the wife of Dr. Chamberlen (to whom he had before given their full portions), a pecuniary legacy, and also devised to each of them, after the decease of his wife, one share in the New River water. He devised another share to the then Court of Assistants of the Goldsmiths' Company, London, and their successors, upon trust, to dispose of the profits every half-year, after the death of his wife, in weekly portions of twelve-pence a piece to the poor of the Company of Goldsmiths, at the discretion of the

wardens and assistants, and "especial to such poor men of my name, kindred, or country, as are or shall be free of the said company." And for the better declaration of what parts were meant to be devised, he added, that the one-half of the water was divided into thirty-six parts or shares, "thirteen of which parts or shares are to myself belonging, and are in the name of myself, and other feoffees in trust to my use, and the profits by me received, and therefore my meaning is, that the six several parts or shares hereby devised and given are six of the parts or shares of my said thirteen parts, and no other." He died in the month after the making of this will, and was interred, agreeably to his desire, in the parish church of St. Matthew, London. He m. Elizabeth, daughter and sole heir of John Olmstead, esq. of Ingateston, in Essex, and had issue five sons and four daughters, viz. both d. v. p. s. p.

1. John,

11. Hugh,}

III. WILLIAM, successor to his father. IV. Henry, baptized in the parish church of St. Matthew, London, 14th June, 1607, and appears to have died before 1678, leaving two sons, William, supposed to have died s. p. Henry, b. about the year 1662, bound apprentice to Robert Andrews, surgeon, in Crutched Friars, 17th January, 1676; became an inhabitant of the parish of St. Olave, Hart Street, 25th December, 1684; and died at an advanced age. He had been twice married, and left issue,

Starkey, b. 3rd April, 1688, who prac tised physic in London, and had a son, Henry, also a medical man in London, who d. s. p. 9th September, 1759; and a daughter, who was living in 1792, the widow of Dr. Jubb, of Reading.

Henry, baptized 30th July, 1699; and died at West Ham, in Essex, 30th November, 1726, leaving a son, Starkey, and a daughter, Anna-Maria, living in 1792, wife of William Grandpree.

V. SIMON, who had four sons, viz. Simon (who died at Constantinople in January, 1678), Hugh, Benjamin, and Hezekiah; and five daughters, Sarah, Hannah, Anne, Elizabeth, and Rebecca. By his will, dated 15th July, 1678, Simon, after reciting that he was seised of eighteen 36th shares and a half of the New River water, viz. seventeen 36th shares of the king's moiety, and one 36th share of the adventurer's moiety, devised to his executors one 36th share of the king's moiety, “charged with a proportionable part of the fee-farm rent due and payable for the same to the king's majesty, and with one hundred pounds per annum to Henry Middleton deceased and his heirs." He gives to his eldest surviving son, HUGH, his house at Hackney, and to all his younger children seven 36th shares of the king's moiety. Of this HUCH, the son of Simon, more hereafter.

1. Jane, m. to Peter Chamberlen, M.D. of London, and was grandmother of

11. Elizabeth, who m. a Mr. Smith, and had a son, Henry Smith.

III. Jabez, who had three children, Elizabeth, Aune, and Jane.

IV. Martha, living unmarried in 1792.

HUOR CHAMBERLEN, M.D. of Alderton Hall, who m. first, Mary, daughter and sole heir of Nathaniel Bacon, esq. of Friston Hall, Suffolk; and secondly, Mary, Lady Crewe, daughter of Sir Willoughby Aston, bart. of Aston, in Cheshire. By the former he left three daughters, his co-heirs,

MARY, d. unm.

ANNA-MARIA, M. to the Right Hon. Edward Hopkyns. (See BURKE'S Com moners, vol. iv. p. 122.)

CHARLOTTE, M. to Richard Luther, esq. of Myles's, in Essex, and left issue, JOHN LUTHER, of Myles's, in Essex, M.P. for that county, d. s. p. CHARLOTTE, M. to Henry Fane, esq. of Wormsley, and was grandmother of the present JOHN FANE, esq. of Wormsley.

REBECCA, M. to John Taylor, esq. of the Circus, Bath, and of Grosve nor Place, London, and was grandmother of JOHN TAYLOR-GORDON, M.D. (See BURKE'S Commoners, vol. iv. p. 7.)

11. Hester, m. to Richard Price, esq.

n. Elizabeth.

IV. Ann.

Sir Hugh's eldest surviving son and successor,

II. SIR WILLIAM MIDDELTON, m. Eleanor, daughter of Sir Thomas Harris, bart. of Shrewsbury, and had issue,

HUGH, his heir.

Elizabeth, who had four New River shares. She m. John Greene, of Enfield, clerk to the New River Company; and dying in childbed, December, 1675, in her forty-third year, was buried in the north aisle of Enfield Church, where a monument was erected to her memory. She left two sons, Giles and William, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Catharine, one of whom married Mr. North, a brewer. The younger son, WILLIAM GRENE, esq. m. Jane, daughter of Hamey Burwell, of Enfield, merchant, and by her, who d. in 1767, had an only daughter and heiress,

JANE GRENE, who m. the Rev. Richard Ellicombe, A. B. of Balliol College, Oxford, who recovered, in right of his wife, after a lawsuit, four New River shares. He died in 1778 (his widow survived until 1786), leaving issue, RichardAmey Burwell, who d. s. p.; WILLIAM, of whom presently; Hugh Myddelton; and Jane. The second son,

THE REV. WILLIAM ELLICOMBE, A.B. curate of Exmouth, b. in 1745; wedded, in 1773, Hannah, daughter of Thomas Rous, esq. of Exeter; and was father of the present

REV. HENRY-THOMAS ELLACOMBE, vicar of Bitton, in Gloucestershire.

Sir William was s. at his decease by his son,

III. SIR HUGH MIDDELTON, who appears to have d. s. p. in 1675, when the BARONETCY ceased to be assumed, but it certainly was not then EXTINCT, nor, in all probability, has it since expired.

Arms Arg. on a pile vert, three wolves' or griffins' heads erased of the field.

Elizabeth, m. to John Lane, of London, merchant. Rebecca, m. to William Barnham, esq. mayor of Norwich, and was mother of a daughter, Sarah, the wife of Charles Wood, esq. of London. Simon Middelton's fourth wife was Mrs. Mary Ellis, widow, daughter of Sir Samuel Luke, knt. of Bedfordshire, who survived him, and wedded for her third husband Mr. Barrington, of London and Hoxton, and after his decease Mr. Blackerby. Simon Middelton was s. by his eldest son,

1. HUGH MIDDELTON, esq. of Hackney, in Middlesex, who was created a BARONET in 1681. He m. Dorothy, daughter of Sir William Oglander, bart. of Nunwell, in the Isle of Wight, and by her, from whom he was divorced by act of parliament, had an only daughter,

DOROTHY, m. to Henry Berkeley, esq. of the Middle Temple, and d. in 1735.

Sir Hugh spent all his estate, and died in obscurity about the commencement of the eighteenth century, when the BARONETCY became EXTINCT. Hugh Middelton, who resided in the parish of Kemberton, Shropshire, under the assumed name of William Raymond, and died 10th March, 1702, is supposed to have been Sir Hugh, the baronet.

Arms-As MIDDELTON OF RUTHYN.

111. Richard, who had two sons, ROBERT and JOHN. The eldest son,

1. THOMAS MYDDELTON, esq. of Chirk Castle, in Denbighshire, was created a BARONET in 1660. He m. first, Mary, daughter of Thomas Cholmondeley, esq. of Vale Royal, in Cheshire; and secondly, Jane, daughter of John Trevor, esq. of Denbighshire. He died in July, 1663, aged thirty-nine, and was s. by his son,

II. SIR THOMAS MYDDELTON, of Chirk Castle, who m. first, Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of Sir Thomas Wilbraham, of Woodhey; and secondly, Charlotta, daughter of Sir Orlando Bridgman, bart. He d. 5th February, 1683, leaving an only daughter and heir,

CHARLOTTE, M. first, to Edward, Earl of Warwick; and secondly, to the Right Hon. JOSEPH ADDISON. Sir Thomas was s. by his brother,

III. SIR RICHARD MYDDELTON, of Chirke Castle, who d. in June, 1716, leaving with a daughter, Mary, who d. unm, a son,

IV. SIR WILLIAM MYDDELTON, at whose decease unmarried 5th January, 1718, aged twenty-four, the BARONETCY became EXTINCT. The estate of Chirk Castle, together with the lordships of Chirk, Chirklands, and Ruthen, followed the entail to

ROBERT MYDDELTON, esq. of Llysfasi, son of Richard, the third son of Sir Thomas Myddelton, knt. of Chirk Castle, who d. in 1666. His brother, JOHN MYDDELTON, esq. died in 1747, and was s. by his son,

RICHARD MYDDELTON, esq. of Chirk Castle, who died in 1795, leaving a son and successor, RICHARD MYDDELTON, esq. at whose decease unm. in 1796, Chirk Castle devolved on his eldest sis ter, CHARLOTTE (the present possessor) who m. ROBERT BIDDULPH, esq. and has issue.

Arms Arg. on a bend vert, three wolves' or griffins' heads erased of the field.

This is a junior branch of the ancient knightly family of Middleton, of Middleton Hall, in Westmore. land; the first of whom on record is

THOMAS MIDDLETON, of Middleton Hall, in the reign of EDWARD III. His son and heir,

JOHN MIDDLETON, of Middleton, m. a daughter of John Medcalf, and had issue,

I. THOMAS, S. to Middleton Hall, and ancestor of JOHN MIDDLETON, esq. of Middleton, temp. CHARLES II. who left two daughters, his co-heirs Bridget, m. to Joshua Heblethwaite, of Dent; aud Mary, m. to James Cragg, of Dent.

1. John.

III. JEFFREY, of whom presently.

One of his grandsons, Robert Middleton, was a maxiner, and died in 1699, leaving a large family. He sister, Margaret, who m. Thomas Booker, gent.

1. Jacomia, or Jacobina, m. to Richard Preston, esq. of Preston Patrick, and had issue.

The third son,

SIR JEFFREY MIDDLETON, knt. was father of

SIR ROBERT MIDDLETON, of Leighton Hall, in the county of Lancaster, who in the reign of RICHARD III. m. Anu, daughter and sole heir of Roger de Betham, of Betham, and thereby brought a great addition of fortune to his family. They had issue,

THOMAS MIDDLETON, esq. of Leighton, who m. Joan, daughter of Sir Thomas Strickland, and dying 8 HENRY VIII. left issue,

GERVASE MIDDLETON, esq. who m. — Kirkham, of Northamptonshire, and dying 1 EDWARD VI. was s. by his son,

GEORGE MIDDLETON, esq. of Leighton, b. in 1522, who m. first, a daughter of Sir Marmaduke Tunstall, of Thurland Castle, and had two daughters; and secondly, Margaret, daughter of Sir Christopher Metcalf, knt. of Nappa, by Lady Elizabeth Clifford, daugh ter of Henry, Earl of Cumberland, by Margaret, daughter of Henry Algernon, fifth Earl of Northum berland, by whom he had three sons and three daughters. He was s. by his eldest son,

THOMAS MIDDLETON, esq. of Leighton Hall, who m. Katharine, sister to Sir Richard Hoghton, bart. of Hoghton Tower, and had, with eight daughters, three

The eldest son,

1. GEORGE MIDDLETON, esq. of Leighton Hall, was a brave and active partizan of CHARLES I. in whose army, besides liberally contributing to the expenses of the war, he served as colonel; for which, on the decline of the king's affairs, he was compelled to compound for his estate. He was knighted by the king at Durham, 26th June, 1642, and was created a BARONET by patent bearing date the day following. After the Restoration he served the office of high sheriff of Lancashire two years successively, viz. 14 and 15 CHARLES II. He m. first, Frances, daughter and heir of Richard Rigg, esq. of Little Strickland, and had a son, Geoffrey, who died young, and a daughter,

MARY, who became sole heiress; she m. Somerford Oldfield, esq. of Somerford, in Cheshire, and had issue,

GEORGE-SOMERford OLDFIELD, esq. who, after the death of Ann, Lady Middleton, resided at Leighton. He m. Lady Clarke, and had two surviving daughters, viz.

1.

,m. to Albert Hodgson, esq. who had Leighton as his wife's portion. This gentleman unfortunately engaging in the rebellion in 1715, was taken at Preston, and long detained in prison. His estate being confiscated, remained in the hands of government till 1722, when it was put up to auction, and purchased by a confidential friend, who, on certain conditions, restored it to Mr. Hodgson, who resided there in 1740. He left two daughters, his co-heirs, Ann, m. to George, younger son of Charles Townley, esq. of Townley, who rebuilt Leighton Hall and

and was mother of Robert Booker, of Broughton, whose only child, Margaret, m. Robert, son of Richard Preston, esq. of Cockerham.